This time last year, I had one book published and
another accepted for publication. I was both scared and excited in equal
measure. Would anyone buy my story of the teacher and the rugby player? In the
end, Sporting Chance did moderately
well and got some good reviews. I still get sales every week.
Learning point 1 – dealing with reviews.
RainbowConnection had a more difficult birth. I
still love the story and the characters, and it’s had some lovely reviews, but
hasn’t sold well. I know it could be better written, especially the show not
tell aspect. When it came out, I had no faith in it and didn’t advertise or
promote it properly. It feels like a family member you don’t talk about.
Learning
point 2 – dealing with promotion.
Learning point 3 – approaching bloggers.
This year, I’ve written or finished writing, one long
novel, four shorter novels and three short stories. I’ve also rewritten a
fanfic to make it an original novel. It hasn’t all be plain sailing. I have
times when I can’t write anything much. I worry whether it’s worth continuing,
like all authors. I can't help comparing myself to others when I know it doesn’t matter. I need to produce what’s in my head and be true to my voice. However, I’m lucky to have found a
publisher willing to take me on, and an editor who has taught me a lot and
believes in my work.
Learning
point 4 – don’t compare yourself to others.
Learning
point 5 – people out there want to help you. Always say thank you and
appreciate the time and support they give to a new writer.
My, this is sounding so serious. Anyway, this is what
I’ve written this year.
Comfort Zone is
a longer novel linked to Sporting Chance. I wanted
to give Aron a story and a HEA. Aron was Dan Morgan’s ex-boyfriend in Sporting
Chance. He has some specific issues to deal with when he meets Joe Welsh. The
style is similar to Sporting Chance in that there are family and friends who
all chip in their views. The novel will be out in print as well so I get to
hold it in my hands and look at it on my shelf. I loved writing this one because it flowed so easily. Comfort Zone will be out on general release 2nd February but you can get it on early download from Pride Publishing 5th January.
I was asked to consider writing a series. This is such a scary idea, I decided to get a few written before I submitted anything. I’ve
produced a series of short novels around 50,000 words each, set on the North East
coast of Scotland – a place I know well from holidays there. The first story,
sadly, will probably never see the light of day as the MCs are both aged sixty
and it seems people do not want to read about older men, but Jamie and John to
appear in the other stories.
Therefore, book two, Choosing
Home, became book one in the Call of
Home series, with MCs Zac McKenzie, an ex-footballer, and Seth Pritchard, who
is recovering from a car crash and running away from his past.
The second book
in the series, Returning Home, has
MC, Darach McNaughton, returning to his home town and meeting the intriguing
Brice Drummond. Darach’s copper’s nose tells him there is something to find out
about Brice and what has happened to him, but curiosity can be a dangerous
thing. Both of these stories have contracts and will be out in July and August
next year.
The third story sees Sam Carmichael, the local Church of Scotland
minister facing up to his past. I won’t spoil the second book by mentioning the
other lead character. I have ideas for the fourth, but haven’t started writing
it yet.
Learning
point 6 – Some stories don’t get published.
Learning
point 7 – writing a series is hard, but rewarding, and continuity is a bugger
to get right.
Writing a short story requires its own form of discipline, especially
when they can only be a certain length and have to contain scenes of a sexual nature. believe me, writing a sex scene at a funeral wake was challenging! Stay,
started as a story for a submission call on the theme of random acts of
kindness. I wanted to write a Christmas story. Not Every Time was produced in a couple of weeks with an is he or
isn’t he question about Raz. I’ve written a sequel, which will be out in May
next year, called, A Bell Rings,
because I wanted to answer that question.
Learning
point 8 – it isn’t easy to write a good short story, and you have to get used
to people saying it needed to be longer.
This has been my writing year looking back. I’m going
to write another post looking forward with my plans, such as they are, for next
year.
I wish you all success in all your endeavours and
